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NHL Players and Owners to Sit Down Face to Face with Fehr, Bettman on the Bench

December 4th, 2012 at 8:27 AM By Matthew Heimlich

The NHL's owners and players have tried nearly every form of dispute resolution, and so far it has not lead the league any closer to operating again. Donald Fehr and Gary Bettman's negotiations have failed. Federal mediators could not bridge the gap between the two parties. Now, both the league and the players will cast aside their highly paid representatives and meet today face to face, this first time they have done so. Six players and six owners will meet today in New York to determine whether they can find common ground in their contentious negotiations regarding the NHL's next CBA.

The NHL will be represented by Ron Burkle (Pittsburgh Penguins), Mark Chipman (Winnepeg Jets), Murray Edwards (Calgary Flames), Jeremy Jacobs (Boston Bruins), Larry Tanenbaum (Toronto Maple Leafs), and Jeff Vinik (Tampa Bay Lightning). The players have not officially been identified, but team captains Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins), Jonathan Toews (Chicago Blackhawks), and Ryan Miller (Buffalo Sabres) are all in New York and are expected to be present. Staff members and counsel for the sides will be present, but Fehr and Bettman will not.

Bettman proposed the idea himself after it was clear that the federal mediation was not going to be fruitful. "Ultimately, we are just trying to find some meeting format that can gain some traction," said NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly.

All games through December 15th, including the All-Star game and the Winter Classic have been canceled.